Blending system



Dec. 18, 1951 V .1. F. Ml-:lssNER 2,579,153

BLENDING SYSTEM med Aug. 1s, 194s 9 sheets-sheet 1 .V' A oRNrsYsl Dec. 18, 1951 J. F. MElsSNER 2,579,153

BLENDING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 1a, 194e 9 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTQR. Jo/m /FMe/ssner s A 7' TURA/YJ Dec. 18, 1951 J, F, MEls'sNER 2,579,153

BLENDING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 18, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOB fo/ml E Me/ssner J. lF. MElssNER BLENDING SYSTEM Dec. i8, 1951 9 Sheets-Shea?l 4 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 INVENTOR' John /z-/Ve/sJ/ver J. F. MEISSNER BLENDING SYSTEM Dec. 18, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 INVENTQR Joh/7 /-/Ve/Jsner ORNEYS.

J. F. MEISSNER BLENDING SYSTEM Dec. 18, 1951 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Jo/m F Me/.rsner BY n 2. E

A ORNEYS J. F. MEISSNER Dec. 1s, 1951` BLENDING SYSTEM 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 INVENTQR John F/Ve/ssner BY l f l ,I f'

,/ T1-ORNE@ Dec. 18, 1951 J'. F. MElssNl-:R

BLENDING SYSTEM Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE BLENDING SYSTEM John F. Meissner, La Grange, Ill., assigner to Hewitt-Robins Incorporated, a corporation of New York 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the handling of ore, coal and similar material requiring to be made available for use in a substantially uniform, blended condition representing an average of the varying assays of incoming supplies of the material. As disclosed in Patents Nos. 858,008 and 2,171,528, for example, a general method or system appropriate for the purpose involves-the laying out of the incoming material in a multitude of successive, superimposed layers to build up a large pile, and, then, the removal of the material progressively from the end of the pile in successive slices or cuts, more or less parallel to the end face of the pile, every such slice or cut necessarily comprising an average or blend of a short, horizontal length of all oi the layers.

The initial laying out or layering of the material is conveniently effected by means of a s-Y called belt tripper, and the subsequent removal of the material from the pile by a so-called reclaimer.

As heretofore arranged and manipulated, such systems have been set up and operated in the open; and, 'by reason of the enormous sizes of the piles required (as, for example, of the coal needed to supply a steel mill) have covered large areas. Also, the common practice has been to Withdraw the reclaimed material laterally from the foot of the end face oi the pile and discharge it to a hopper car operating in a sunken trough or opentopped tunnel running alongside the pile throughout its length,A thus adding further to the width of the space required for the system.l

The Vpresent invention contemplates a system serving the general purposes of the arrangements above referred to, but achieving the results in a manner enabling the capacity of the unit area ofthe system to be vastly increased; so much so, that without prohibitive expense, the entire pile and reclaiming mechanism may be housed in an enclosure and operated free of interference from the elements. Heretofore, diiculties have been encountered as the result of rain saturation of the piles and also, in northern latitudes, from freezing, both of which conditions can be obviated by the present invention.

In the preferred form herein described for purposes of illustration, the invention incorporates sundry more specic improvements and advantages, as will appear.

In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a broken out, longitudinal, partially sectioned view of an enclosure, with a reclaimer and' associated mechanism embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the enclosure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged portion oi the reclaimer and associated mechanism;

Figs. 5 and 6 are further enlarged views of parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5 (with background omitted) Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views on the lines VIII-VIII and IX--IX, respectively, of Fig. 6;

and

Fig. 10 is a simplified wiring diagram illustrative of certain of the mechanism controls.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, broken out View illustrating an alternate form of mechanism for progressively opening the slot closure; and

Figs. 12 is a simplified wiring diagram for such alternate form.

Referring generally to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a form of enclosure which includes not only side Walls, with their attendant advantages as presently brought out, but also a roof structure, which is the preferred arangement. This enclosure comprises a rear Wall l, and side Walls 2 and 1%Y which support a suitable rooi:` 4. The rear wall l (see Fig. 1) has a built up, inclined face 5 which acts as a backing for the pile 6 of material to be reclaimed, the slope of Wall 5 approximating the Yangle of repose of the material and hence making it convenient to reclaim the pile virtually in its entirety, as will be understood. The enclosure further includes a loor 8 which is made of any suitable material, such as reinforced concrete,

capable of withstanding the loads imposed by the pile of material 6 and the reclaiming mechanism.

Located approximately midway between the side walls 2 and 3, is a longitudinal oor opening designated generally by the reference character le. This opening runs from the front of the enclosure to the inclined face 5 of the rear Wall and it may be made in any suitable manner toadmit material from the pile t to a tunnel ll which runs from front to rear of thev enclosure as shown in Fig. 1. At the rear of the enclosure, the tunnel terminates ina series of access steps 1. The tunnel opening is normally closed against admission of material as the pile is being built up, this closure being effected by means capable of being progressively opened to admit material to the slot, or tunnel opening,` only adjacent the foot of the pile. In the present instance such means is shown as consisting of a series, of cross members, such as angle irons I2 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) which are placed side by side and which extend across the opening I5. The arrangement may be as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, in which the irons I2 are supported by suitable projections such as the brackets |3. In any event, the irons |2 can be moved longitudinally of the opening l@ so as to admit material from the pile 6 at any desired position along the opening as will be later described in detail.

YAs is seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the roof 6 incorporates a structure l which runs from front to rear of the enclosure and houses a belt tripper designated generally by the reference character |1. This belt tripper, which may be of any appropriate construction, acts in the known manner to spread incoming material over the length of the floor 8 and thus build up the plurality of layers of which the pile 5 is composed. Preferably, the belt tripper is of the known type adapted to eect a sealing of the enclosure. By using side walls to confine the pile, in conjunction with a floor tunnel between the walls, it will be recognized that a pile of large capacity can be built up on a relatively limited floor area, as contrasted With the space required for the usual unconned pile with its conveyor tunnel located at one side of the pile.

Referring, in general, to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and in particular to Figs. l and 3, a reclaimer is provided, which includes a main framework or carriage 2|) mounted upon wheels 2| which wheels run upon rails 22. The reciaimer is provided with suitable prime movers, such as electric motors, for propelling the reclaimer in either direction along the rails 22. The reclaimer is also provided with a harrow 24 and with suitable means for oscillating it to remove slices from the face of the pile 6. Since this much of the reclaimer is well known in the art, it will not be further described.

As the harrow mechanism brings down the material to the foot of the pile 6, it is there caught by a pair of constantly rotating screws 26 and 21, of opposing helices, carried on and suitably driven from the reclaimer. These screws feed the material from across the entire width of the foot of the pile toward the center of the enclosure and, in particular, tothe tunnel opening I0. At this point, the angle irons i2 are separated so that the mix can fall through into `a hopper car 35, which, in the usual or any suitable manner, is moved in synchronism with the reclaimer 2li so as always to be in position to receive the material red to it by the reclaimer. As the material enters the hopper car, it is guided therethrough onto a suitable conveyor 3| whence oit is carried to any desired terminus, as is well known.

Except as below indicated, the details of the hopper car and its drive form no part of the present invention and require no description.

In order to keep the tunnel open at a point near the front of the reclaimer, regardless of the speed at which the reclaimer is advanced into the pile 6, means are provided for progressively moving the slot closure or angle irons |2 toward the front of the enclosure.

In general, such means will be understood to be timed to synchronize with the other related factors of reclaimer movement, hopper car movement and deceding pile face. In the preferred form now to be described, the means for progressively uncovering the tunnel is so synchonized by coupling it directly with the reclaimer.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, and to Figs.

5, 6 and 7 in particular, two hook members d0 are pivotally mounted on pins 43 carried on the free ends of yoke arms 3| secured to a beam member 45. The latter, which is of T-shaped cross section (see Figs. 8 and 9) is mounted on the reclaimer for fore and aft movement relatively thereto, being suitably guided, as by roller 45. Secured to the underside of member 45, are two spaced rack bars 41 and 43 the downwardly projecting teeth of which are in constant mesh with pinions 4S and 5i), respectively (see Fig. 8). These pinions are mounted on and driven by a shaft 52 but through a lost-motion connection. As shown in Fig. 5, a key 5|, carried -by the shaft, is located in slot 5| in the pinion, so that as the shaft is rotated counter-clockwise from the position indicated, the shaft makes about a quarter turn before picking up and driving the pinion therewith. A similar quarter turn-lag occurs when the shaft is subsequently rotated in the reverse direction. Mounted for sliding movement relative to the rack bars 41 and i8 is a third rack bar 55 (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9) which is in constant mesh with a pinion 56, secured directly to shaft 51. Shafts 52 and 5'! are journaled in the main framework of the reclaimer. Mounted upon shafts 52 and 5i are sprocket wheels 59 and 65 Which are driven by chain Si by means of a reversible electric motor carried on the reclaimer. As seen in Figs. 5 and 7, the left-hand end of rack bar 55 has fastened thereto, yoke arms 55 similar to the arms 4U and at their free ends carrying pins 5l. These pins extend through slots 58 in hook members 45 (see Fig. 5) and are rigidly secured in the arms 65 and |55. Thus it is seen that if rack bar 55 moves relative to rack bars 4i and 48, the hooks 45 will be caused to rotate about their pivots 43 in a direction dependent upon the direction of motion of bar 55, thus raising or lowering the hooks.

As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, each angle iron I2 may be formed with dimples or depressions 70 to receive the hooks. The irons I2 also have, secured to each end thereof, small plates 72 upon which plates (see Fig. 9) they slide and which, by holding the trailing edge of each iron |2 slightly raised, serve to insure an overlapping of the irons and an effective sealing of the tunnel slot or opening.

Before referring in detail to the control mechanism by which the rack bars are manipulated, reference will be made to the general operation of the reclaimer and its associated elements. Assuming that the pile 5 has been built up to substantially ll the enclosure and is ready for reclaiming, a group of angle irons |2 is rst removed from the series adjacent the foot of the pile of material, as indicated in Fig. 5. In this instance, four of the angle irons have been removed, and to the extent of the width of these four angle irons, the entrance to the tunnel is opened. The reclamer is now advanced to the face of the pile and the harrow and the reclaimer screws are set in motion to bring down the material and feed it toward and through the now exposed tunnel opening. By means of the control mechanism below described, the rack bars are periodically and automaticallysmanipulated in such manner as to cause the hook members 45 to reach forward, ahead of the reclaimer, grab the angle irons on the far side of the tunnel opening, and draw such angle iron back across the opening into contact with the last angle iron on the near side. This operation is repeated from time to time with the result that the tunnel opening represented by posed face of the pile, as above described.

The control mechanism by which the foregoing manipulation of the rack bars is accomplished includes a control lever 'i5 pivotally mounted atlB on the body of the reclaimer and so located that, as the. harrow first attacks the pile of material, the lower end l? ot lever '|5'- rests on. the, top of the last angleV iron aheadV of the opening; caused 'by the removal of the group of four angle irons, as above described. As the reclaimer moves bodily forward, lever movesv over the top of d the angle ironon which it rests untilit falls by gravity into the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 6. This lowering of the front end of.4 lever 'i5 raises its rear end or tail portion 79., and the latter elevates a switch plunger 78 and energizes a motor control circuit, as illustrated in the Fig. 1G wiring diagram.

Referring now to Fig. 1|), the upward movement of plunger '58 causes contact 82 to bridge contacts 5|, thereby completing a circuit which may be traced as follows: From input leadV 83 through contacts Si, lead Se', through switch arm d5 of a reversing switch R, lead 85, through held winding El., leads 8.5. and 89, through switch arm` Si! of the reversing switch, lead ai and through rotor winding 92 to the main lead 93.k The motor 'i-92 is thus energized and, through chain 6| (Fig. 4) drive shafts 52' and 51 counterclockwise.

Referring to Fig. 5, rotation of shaft 5l causes immediate movement of lower rack bar 55, to the left, the upper rack bars remainingstationary due to the lost-motion connection dif-5|. Suchy movement of rack bar swings the hook members 453 clockwise about their pivots d3. After the hook members have thus been raised, the lost motion between shaft 52. andfpinion 49. is. taken upv so that all three rack bars 4l, GS (Fig. 9.) and 55 (Figs. 8 and 5) then move to the left, asa unit, to the Ydotted line position oi Fig. 5f.

Qn some part of the rack mechanism, meansv a bridge contacts liii of a holding switch H arranged in parallel with switch 8|-82. When member l5 and the racks reach the dotted line position of Fig. 5, the ear ibi, by engagement with actuator bar ||2 (Fig. 10) throws the reversing switch arms 85 and 9!) to the positions shown in dotted lines, thereby reversing the current in the motor field and the direction of ro tation of the motor. Rack 55 immediately starts back toward the reclaimer and, in so doing, swings hook members 43 counterclockwise about their pivot pins d3 into engagement with the depressions l@ of the angle iron i2 at the foot of the material pile 6. By this time the lost motion between shaft 5:2.- a-nd its, pinion 49 has again been taken up and all racks theny move to they right asO an unit, hook members d carrying the engaged` anglefiron. |'2 with` them In due course thee angle: iron being traversed passes beneath, engages and raises con-trol lever i5, therebyvbreaking the motor circuit through contactsv 8| and 82 (Fig. l0). However, the motor circuit is maintained by hold-1 ing. switch H, permitting the motor to retract the rack 'bars to fully restore lever 'l5 toits ffull line-position. Asthis positionis reached, ear |j0|| acts upon arm` |y i2 to restore the reversing switchl to., its original position and ear ||l2 c oincidentlyacts upon arm |05 to break the motor circuit at` the-holding switch f As stated:y above, thisv sequence is repeated from: time to` time until the entire pile; hasI been re-4 claimed; and, as lwill now. be apparent, the con-- trol of the floor opening is not onlywholly' automatic: in the sense that it requiresV no attention trom the operator, but also inv that the rate at which. the slot opening is: progressively advanced. varies directly with the speed at' which the operator'advances the reclaimer.

InV the alternativeY arrangement diagrammatically illustra-ted in Fig. l1, the mechanism by which the floor; opening is progressively advanced iscarried by the hopper car in the tunnel, rather than by the reclaimer. Only so much of the hopper car 302 is shown as is necessary to. indi` cate the additions: to; the hopper car- 30. of the rst described arrangement.

Mounted on the hopper car are front and rear sprocket shafts ||5, ||r6 carrying sprockets H8, respectively, connected by chain H9 of which one of the links carries a lug |21). Sprocketl shaft H5V is driven by chain |.2| from a motordriven shaft |22. In the wiring diagram, Fig.V l2, shaft` |22 is indicated as driven directly by motor |23.

In this form, each angle iron l2 is provided with a depending lug |24 for engagement by chainA lug |25, whereby the angle irons are successively moved from front to rear of the oor opening for the purpose above described. The

' hopper car is advanced in synchronism with the.

reclaimer, and the general arrangement is such that, periodically, the motor |23 is energized to effect one turn of shaft |22 and .one complete circuit ofV the chain lug |210, in the coursey of which` it-.picks up one of the angle irons atl the left of the tunnel opening (as viewed in Fig. 11) and moves` it to the right of the opening. While only one chain He is shown in the diagram, it. will be understood that in order to keep clear of the material passing down through the tunnel opening, two such chains and pairs of sprockets are mounted on the car, one at each side of the tunnel opening.

The starting of the motor for each cycle is controlled by a switch |25 mounted on the hopper car and actuated in one direction by a spring |25 and in the other direction by a lever |21 positioned for engagement by lugs |24. In the arrangement illustrated, lever |21 is depressed by a lug |24 (as the hopper car advances) to open switch |25 and, as the free end of lever |21 moves out from under lug |24 (as the hopper car continues to advance) the switch is closed by spring |26. The stopping of motor |23 is effected by a switch |28 which is opened by a cam actuator |29 mounted on shaft |22 and is closed by a spring |3|J (Fig. l2). Thus, in the full line position of the parts shown in Fig. 1l, motor shaft |22 is at rest'(switches |28 and |25 both being open). As the hopper car continues its slow movement to the left, sprockets H1, ||8 advance to positions ||1, H8 and lug |20 to position |20', lever |21 moves out from under that lug |24 which is shown holding it depressed and spring |26 then closes switch |25 to start motor |23 and effect one cycle of movement of shaft |29, chain IIS and lug |20, as above stated, thereby moving one of the angle irons across the tunnel opening.

Referring to the wiring diagram, Fig. 12, it Will be noted that a time delay switch |3| is provided. While it may be of any preferred type, it is indicated as controlled (opened) by a heater coil |32 which is energized as the result of the closure of switch |25 and, through switch |3|, the motor circuit (which is at this time open at switch |28) is completed. As the motor starts, member |29 permits spring |30 to close switch |28, which is in parallel with switch |3 I. Before the shaft has completed its turn, switch |3| will have been opened by heater coil |32, switch |25 will have been re-opened by engagement of the next succeeding lug |24 with lever |21, thereby breaking the circuit of heater coil |32, and switch |3| will have re-closed. Accordingly, when shaft |22 Acompletes its turn, and member |29 again opens switch |28 to stop the motor, the several switches will again occupy the positions shown in Fig. 12 in readiness for the next cycle, which starts as lever |21 again moves out from under lug |24 in response to the advance of the hopper car.

lIt will be apparent that the enclosure can be provided with suitable doors at its open end (toward the right as viewed in Fig, l) and rendered substantially dust-tight. Also, to the end of `minimizing the hazard which would result from' the existence of an explosive atmosphere within the enclosure, the free space within the latter may be maintained under slight negative pressure.

As will now be apparent, the principles of the invention are susceptible of embodiment in various forms to suit the exigencies of any particular installation, and hence the details described are to be understood to be illustrative only.

In the premises, the following is claimed:

In a system of the character described, the combination of a receiving floor for a pile of layered material, a tunnel beneath the level of the floor having an entrance slot in the oor extending longitudinally thereof intermediate the lateral boundaries of the pile of layered material 8 thereon, means normally closing the said slot to prevent the gravity flow of material through the slot into the tunnel, a hopper car adapted to operate within the tunnel, a reclaimer adapted to be advanced into the pile along a path paralleling the tunnel and its entrance slot and including means for directing the reclaimed material toward the slot, and means carried by the hopper car for progressively opening the slot closing means to admit reclaimed material to the hopper car.

2. In a system of the character described, the combination of an enclosure including an elongated receiving floor bordered by walls along two sides and across one end, a supporting structure mounted on the side walls and extending over` the said floor, layering mechanism carried by said supporting structure between the side walls and extending throughout the length of the fioor, said enclosure adapted to receive a pile of layered material delivered by said mechanism and confined throughout a substantial portion of its height by said end and side walls and with the pile terminating at the end opposite to the end wall in an exposed face slope determined by the angle of repose of the material, a tunnel beneath the level of the floor having an entrance slot in the floor, said tunnel and entrance slot extending longitudinally of the enclosure intermediate the side walls, means normally closing the slot to prevent the gravity flow of materal through the slot into the tunnel, a hopper car adapted to operate within the tunnel and actuating mechanism for opening the slot closing means, said actuating mechanism being mounted on the hopper car for movement therewith.

JOHN F. MEISSNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 230,144 Merry July 20, 1880 1,860,903 Nelson May 3l, 1932 1,974,293 Surdykowski Sept. 18, 1934 2,171,528 Andrada Sept. 5, 1939 2,281,944 Peterman June 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 353,419 Y Germany May 18, 1922 

